[Q] Increase the size of the system partition - Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo, Pro

Is there anyone can explain to me whether it is possible, and how, to increase the size of the /system partition in my MT15i (NEO) as in NEO V?
I installed the ROM v SOS. 1.3, and I tried to install some XPERIA S stuff, but the free space on the /system partition was reduced at 0 kb; the entire /system partition in my NEO includes 327 Mb, compared with 400 Mb in the NEO V, the 70 Mb of difference, in my NEO, have used by the useless /vendor partition, how do I recover this space?
I know there is a way (and I've used) to increase the /data partition from 380 to 420 Mb there is a similar trick for the /system partition?

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I answer to myself:
is very simple:
- Make a nandroid backup;
- Flash userdata.sin, cache.sin, system.sin and loader.sin from a *.ftf for the NEO V;
- Reboot in recovery;
- Format /system and /data
- Restore the backup you just made
- Reboot and Enjoy!
Now Titanium backup says that my /system partition is 419 MB, and I can flash all the stuff from XPERIA S

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now try to look if you still have the face unlock after doing this...

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You have to flash Face Unlock enabler from jj ROM Add-on
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?ika8ueau7kjr50i
It work!

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Did you recognize any negative side effects?
More userspace and system space would be very welcome
Reverse by flashing same files from .587 neo fw?

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Just wanted to confirm, works like a charm /data and /system raised. Used .587 Neo V stripped fw(just the 4 files magobetz mentioned).
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Thanks!

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frank_harmann said:
Just wanted to confirm, works like a charm /data and /system raised. Used .587 Neo V stripped fw(just the 4 files magobetz mentioned).
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you upload the .587 neo v stripped tft?

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You can use http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1871177

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So how to flash the sin files? Using CWM or Fastboot or Flash tool?

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dutta_d1 said:
So how to flash the sin files? Using CWM or Fastboot or Flash tool?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can flash it via fastboot, or use flashtool if it's packed up in .ftf (as I'm not sure if flashtool supports flashing .sin files)

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Madfysh said:
you can flash it via fastboot, or use flashtool if it's packed up in .ftf (as I'm not sure if flashtool supports flashing .sin files)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you point me to a guide or tell me the fastboot commands?
I have been searching XDA but did not find a guide anywhere.

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dutta_d1 said:
I have been searching XDA but did not find a guide anywhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then you did a bad job.
Sticky thread in neo v dev section.
Also I sugest you read some sticky threads in Arc sections..
Also fastboot have help inside, i beleve you need to type fastboot help.
Something like fastboot flash partition_name file_name

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Madfysh said:
Then you did a bad job.
Sticky thread in neo v dev section.
Also I sugest you read some sticky threads in Arc sections..
Also fastboot have help inside, i beleve you need to type fastboot help.
Something like fastboot flash partition_name file_name
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the hints. However, I already know this stuff. I know how to flash kernel using fastboot. You also need to include the custom vendor ID for xperia. Also saw the thread in Neo V section but logically it doesn't include the instructions to flash sin files to Neo.
From my understanding, we will need to flash these via fastboot-
fastboot -i 0xfce flash data userdata.sin
fastboot -i 0xfce flash cache cache.sin
fastboot -i 0xfce flash system system.sin
But still not sure as I have not seen anywhere the exact process.
Please excuse my concerns, but I want to be very sure to understand exactly how it is to be done. Touching partition tables is unlike flashing ROM and very risky. If done incorrectly, it might brick the device.

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I get "com.google.process.gapps has stopped"???

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Does it work on stock rom on locked bootloader?
Does this work with stock rom on locked bootloader? I mean I'm sure you can flash it, but can you get back to recovery considering that cwm is on the system partition? Does flashing these files format the partitions? I'm not willing to unlock my bootloader yet and if the system partition is formatted I lose my recovery and if I flash stock again to root and get the recovery back the original neo sin files are used. If system is formatted can I install neo v stock and then change to neo kernel and rom and then root, get recovery and restore my backup? Thanks :highfive:

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Guys this is how I did this....( by the way I've unlocked bootloader)...
1. downloaded the MT11i .587 ftf
2. Opened the ftf with 7zip and deleted all sin files except for cache.sin, loader.sin,system.sin and userdata.sin.
3.edited the manifest.mf file in the META-INF folder, just one line changed the device name to MT15i
4. backed up current Rom, flashed the ftf file using flashtool, restored the nandroid backup, rebooted.
and now I've a MT15i with system partition of 419MB and data partition of 440MB.... :-o
I'm just sharing my Xperiance... please read the whole thread before trying it.... This way you don't have to worry about the fastboot commands....

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DarshanaXN said:
Guys this is how I did this....( by the way I've unlocked bootloader)...
1. downloaded the MT11i .587 ftf
2. Opened the ftf with 7zip and deleted all sin files except for cache.sin, loader.sin,system.sin and userdata.sin.
3.edited the manifest.mf file in the META-INF folder, just one line changed the device name to MT15i
4. backed up current Rom, flashed the ftf file using flashtool, restored the nandroid backup, rebooted.
and now I've a MT15i with system partition of 419MB and data partition of 440MB.... :-o
I'm just sharing my Xperiance... please read the whole thread before trying it.... This way you don't have to worry about the fastboot commands....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did it this way-
1. Downloaded FTF file of NeoV
2. Installed FlashTool
3. Loaded FTF and by selecting/deselecting the options on the right, just made the list to flash system, userdata, loader and cache sin files.
No need to edit the FTF file as you can deselect the unneeded sin files from the tool itself.
4. Boot into clockworkmod and format system and data partitions.
5. Install ROM
Even I have unlocked partition and had custom kernel with clockworkmod installed at the time of flashing the FTF files.

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I did it like it's on the last post... IT WORKS!! \o/
Thank you!

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dutta_d1 said:
I did it this way-
1. Downloaded FTF file of NeoV
2. Installed FlashTool
3. Loaded FTF and by selecting/deselecting the options on the right, just made the list to flash system, userdata, loader and cache sin files.
No need to edit the FTF file as you can deselect the unneeded sin files from the tool itself.
4. Boot into clockworkmod and format system and data partitions.
5. Install ROM
Even I have unlocked partition and had custom kernel with clockworkmod installed at the time of flashing the FTF files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can use this step on locked bootloader also?

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kuzenka said:
can use this step on locked bootloader also?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, because when you flash the sin files your system partition is erased and you won't be able to go to recovery because on locked bootloaders the recovery is inside the rom on the system partition. You need unlocked bootloader with a custom kernel that has recovery included so you can restore a backup or flash a new rom. You can unlock bootloader by following the instructions from this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1409269